Tony Reeves, Partner, Local Government Advisory, comments on the optimum conditions needed for fostering sustained economic growth in the North. 

There is no doubt that the emerging agenda around devolution and the intra-regional proposals of the Super North present real opportunities to create the conditions for sustained economic growth in the North. Strategic investment and interventions sharply focussed on key priorities should build business confidence to invest in the North. Political decision makers will have to convince the business community that they will take pragmatic decisions based on sound economic evidence, engage business actively in decision making and demonstrate long term stable and accountable governance if they are to materially affect business and investment behaviour.

Now is also a good time for Northern politicians and business leaders to demand more meat on the bones of commitments to Northern economic growth and devolution. History suggests that the appetite for devolution is greater amongst the national parties in the run up to a general election than it is afterwards.  A concerted effort from Northern politicians, backed by business to secure the levers of growth, will pay dividends over the years to come. Alternatively getting bogged down in public argument about governance and parochialism will miss the opportunity and sow seeds of doubt in investors' minds.

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